FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to membrane filtration systems, and more particularly
to those systems employing porous or permeable membranes located in a tank or cell
open to atmosphere.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be
considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common
general knowledge in the field.
[0003] Porous membrane filtration systems require regular backwashing of the membranes to
maintain filtration efficiency and flux while reducing transmembrane pressure (TMP)
which rises as the membrane pores become clogged with impurities. Typically, during
the backwash cycle the impurities are forced out of the membrane pores by pressurised
gas, liquid or both into the feed tank or cell. The liquid containing impurities and
deposits from the membranes is then drained or flushed from the tank.
[0004] The waste liquid displaced from the tank needs to be disposed of or reprocessed,
usually in an environmentally safe manner, so any reduction in the volume of such
waste liquid is seen as advantageous in terms of environmental impact and cost.
[0005] The draining or flushing of the tank, particularly when large arrays of membranes
are used also requires time which results in down time of the filtration cycle. In
order to reduce this down time large pumping systems are required to quickly drain
and refill the tank. Where tanks or cells are arranged in banks and feed is used to
refill the tank, a lowering in levels in other cells may be produced during the refill
process. This again impinges on operating efficiency of the filtration system.
[0006] Further, in filtration systems employing gas bubble scouring of the membranes it
has been found advantageous to confine the bubbles as much as possible in the region
of the membranes to assist with the scouring process.
[0007] Reduction in backwash volume also reduces the volume of chemical cleaning agents
required in some systems. This has the two-fold advantage of reducing cost in terms
of chemical requirements while also reducing waste disposal problems.
[0008] It has been found advantageous to reduce the volume of feed liquid in the filtration
cell to ameliorate the above problems and provide at least some of the advantages
outlined above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the abovementioned problems
of the prior art, provide one or more of the advantages outlined above or at least
provide a useful alternative by reducing the feed volume presented to the porous membranes
in a simple, cost effective manner.
[0010] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of reducing volume
of feed liquid required in a membrane filtration system having a number of porous
membranes submersed in a volume of feed liquid to be filtered, the method comprising
the step of providing filler elements within said volume of feed liquid to be filtered.
[0011] Preferably, the filler elements substantially fill voids between the porous membranes
while still permitting liquid flow communication with the membranes.
[0012] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a membrane filtration
system having a number of porous membranes submersed in a volume of feed liquid to
be filtered, wherein one or more filler members are provided in voids between said
membranes to reduce said volume.
[0013] In one preferred form the membranes are porous hollow fibre membranes arranged in
bundles to form membrane modules. The modules are submersed in a liquid volume provided
in a tank or cell open to atmospheric pressure. In this form of the invention, the
voids between the modules are at least partially filled by a filler member or members.
[0014] Preferably, the filler members are each formed of a number of elements which fit
together to form an integral unit. This enables the filler members to be assembled
around the membranes modules without the need for removal of the modules. This assists
in initial set-up as well as with replacement and maintenance regimes.
[0015] The filler elements may comprise spheres, preferably hollow, which can be packed
around the membranes to fill the voids. The spheres are preferably sized to avoid
blocking or passing through any of the inlet/outlet ports or valves associated with
the filtration system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bank of filtration modules having filler members
according to one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the upper portion of the bank of filtration
modules of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the filler members of Figure 1 as they would be
assembled around a filtration module;
Figure 4 shows an end elevation view of a central filler member of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a side elevation view of the filler member of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the filler member of Figure 4;
Figure 7 shows a plan view of the filler member of Figure 4;
Figure 8 shows an end elevation view of side filler member of Figure 3;
Figure 9 shows a side elevation view of the filler member of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the filler member of Figure 8;
Figure 11 shows a plan view of the filler member of Figure 8; and
Figure 12 shows a graph of transmembrane pressure over a period of time for two types
of filtration system with a filler system being employed on one system part way through
the test period.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to the drawings, the embodiments will be described in relation to a manifold
and filtration system disclosed in our co-pending PCT Application No. WO 00/62908
(which is incorporated herein by cross-reference), however, it will be appreciated
that the invention is equally applicable to other forms of filtration system requiring
similar advantages.
[0018] The system includes a bank 5 of filter submodules 6 each attached in groups to a
membrane filtration manifold 7. In this embodiment, the submodules 6 comprise elongate
bundles of porous hollow fibre membranes (not shown) typically enclosed by a supporting
cage (not shown). The submodules 6 are positioned within a feed tank or cell (not
shown) and when the tank is filled the sub-modules are immersed in feed liquid. Each
manifold 7 is connected to a filtrate conduit 8 for removal of filtrate.
[0019] During the backwash process, the fibre bundles of submodules 6 are cleaned externally
by air bubbles or a mixture of air/liquid injected into each submodule to scrub the
outer surfaces of the fibre membranes. The submodules 6 may also be further cleaned
by backwashing liquid and/or gas through the fibre pores.
[0020] In accordance with this embodiment, in order to reduce backwash volume, each submodule
6 is encased partially by a number of filler members 9 which are segmented to allow
each to fit closely around the elongate fibre bundles. In this embodiment, the filler
members 9 are spaced from the upper and lower manifolds 7 to allow for flow of liquid
and/or impurities in and out of the submodules 6. It will be appreciated that other
arrangements to allow liquid flow can also be employed, for example, the filler members
9 could be spaced radially from the outer periphery of each fibre bundle submodule
6 or various shapes of filler member 9 could be used which allowed for liquid flow
to and from the submodule 6 while still substantially filling the voids between each
submodule 6.
[0021] In this system, which employs a gas bubble scouring method, the use of the filler
members 9 provides an additional advantage of confining the gas bubbles within the
submodules 6 and thus improving scouring efficiency.
[0022] As best shown in Figures 3 to 11, the filler members 9 are formed from complementary
segments comprising a central or core element 10 having two sets of parallel opposed
semi-circular, in cross-section, channels 11 extending longitudinally along the length
of the central element 10. The channels 11 have a diameter sized to accommodate and
fit closely around the submodule 6. The sides 12 and inner edge 13 of the element
10 are provided with outwardly extending tabs or bosses 14 which mate with complementary
slots 15 on other filler segments 16 to provide, in use, an integral filler member
9.
[0023] The side filler segments 16 are generally T-shaped in cross-section with half-semi
circular sides 17 of the same diameter as the central element 10.
[0024] The top and bottom surface 18 of the central element 10 are provided with a spacer
peg 19 which positions the filler element 9 in a spatial relationship from the manifold
7 to allow fluid flow to and from the top and bottom of the fibre bundles.
[0025] The filler members 9 are desirably formed from material which is resistant to any
destructive substances present in the feed stream as well as chemicals, gases, etc.
which may be used in the backwash or other cleaning processes. The filler members
9 are also desirably of neutral buoyancy so they will remain in position during submersion
of the submodules in the feed tank. They can be formed from foamed plastics material
such as polyethylene foam or blow or rotor moulded plastic. When blow-moulded, the
filler elements may be hollow to allow for filling with a fluid (usually water) to
produce the required neutral buoyancy.
[0026] Figure 12 shows the effect on the transmembrane pressure characteristics of two filtration
machines. The upper graph shows a machine without the filler members whereas the lower
graph shows a machine with filler members employed part way through the test cycle.
This graph demonstrates the improved effectiveness of the backwash when filler members
are employed.
[0027] It will be appreciated that further embodiments and exemplifications of the invention
are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention described.
1. A membrane filtration system having a number of porous hollow fibre membranes arranged
in bundles to form membrane submodules (6) submersible in a volume of feed liquid
to be filtered, wherein one or more filler members (9) are provided in voids between
the submodules to reduce the volume.
2. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler members (9) are
each formed of a number of elements which fit together to form an integral unit.
3. A membrane filtration system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the
filler members are neutrally buoyant with respect to said feed liquid.
4. A membrane filtration system according to claim 3 wherein the filler elements are
hollow and adapted to be filled with a fluid to provide the neutral buoyancy.
5. A membrane filtration system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
filler member is formed from complementary segments comprising a central element (10)
having two sets of parallel opposed semi-circular, in cross-section, channels (11)
extending longitudinally along the length of the central element, each channel having
a diameter sized to accommodate and fit closely around a submodule (6), and side filler
segments (16) of generally T-shaped cross-section with half-semi circular sides of
the same diameter as the channels adapted to engage with the central element to form
the filler member.
6. A membrane filtration system according to claim 5, wherein each filler member includes
complementary engagement formations (14) for engaging with associated engagement means
(15) on other filler members.
7. A membrane filtration system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
filler member is formed of foamed plastics material.
8. A membrane filtration system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the
filler member is formed of blow-moulded plastics material.
9. A membrane filtration system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the
filler member is formed of rotor-moulded plastics material.
10. A method of reducing volume of feed liquid required in a porous membrane filtration
system having a number of porous hollow fibre membranes arranged in bundles to form
membrane submodules submersible in a volume of feed liquid to be filtered, the method
comprising the step of providing filler members in voids between the submodules to
reduce the volume.